The word “virtual” these days can mean so many things.  It is defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary as, “an artificial environment which is experienced through artificial stimuli (as sights and sounds) provided by a computer and in which one’s actions partially determine what happens in the environment.”

Business travel has become a hardship with security lines, expensive airfare, and the loss of the most precious thing, time.  My colleagues who travel for business meet customers all over the world and have one basic need, a functional, high-tech meeting room.  A solution to travel is videoconferencing.  With an IP address, people can meet and share ideas face to face in real time without setting foot outside their city.

Public videoconference rooms can be found worldwide.  If you call one of our concierges at the Discovery Conference Centre, in minutes you will have a location for your next virtual meeting.   DCC has a network of thousands of locations with negotiated market prices available to our clients.

Please contact us for your next virtual meeting and let us be your host.  We are here for you.

It is reported that Microsoft is buying Yammer for $1.2B.  What is Yammer?  It is known as the “Facebook for the business world.”  Yammer provides ways for companies to create private social networks for their employees.  It has more than 5 million corporate users.

Their press release reads, “The acquisition represents Microsoft’s latest attempt to adapt a major shift in technology industry, one that is fueling demand for more internet services and social networking tools.” 

I believe the acquisition represents the importance and value of community.  People need people to succeed in business, period.  Everyone from a paralegal to an MBA to a computer programmer must develop business relationships with co-workers, vendors, and clients in order to be successful, and communication is an essential ingredient for that success.

Tools such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Yammer, Twitter, MySpace… are popular and apparently worth billions of dollars because of the value of networking.  It is simple and obvious.  My goal in writing this post is as a reminder to never put off meeting a potential client, vendor – anyone with great energy and is like-minded – connect.   Our Discovery Conference Centre is a place where we want connections to happen and opportunity to flourish.  Thus, we have our bi-monthly speaker series with topics ranging from “How to Read People” to “Giving Presentations.” 

Goal:  Connect with at least two business people this week on LinkedIn, not competitors, but people you know, trust, and might do business with someday.  I wish everyone SUCCESS.

@rosaliekramm  Twitter

Have you ever seen something in passing—  a poor translation, a machine that doesn’t quite work, an inefficient business practice— and thought, “I could do better”? The feeling lingers for a few minutes, perhaps a few days, but eventually it fades as you go about your life. There are so many other things to do; it’s not your job to do that as well. What would happen, though, if you were to pursue it?

You would certainly be in good company. History is full of entrepreneurs, inventors, musicians, artists, and so many other brave souls who chose to push forward with their visions of something better, to leave the safety of the familiar and take a risk for the sake of improvement.

The reward for successful innovation can be great; it is often not the hardest-working person, but the one most able to devise unique solutions to problems, who will rise to the top. Many of the very best businesses are constantly looking for ways to increase productivity, incorporate new and better technology, and serve their clients better and more efficiently. Olympic athletes use the latest training methods to help them exceed the previous records of human achievement. The cream of the crop in nearly any field is rife with innovators.

There is no sense in hiding the truth: innovation is difficult. To borrow a quote from Star Trek, you truly must, “boldly go where no one has gone before.” Still, in light of the potential benefits your hard work can yield, it is well worth the effort. So the next time you think, “I can do that better,” I encourage you to nurture that thought and see where it leads.

Discovery Conference Centre is constantly working to find new and innovative solutions to your needs. Comfortable conference rooms equipped with the latest in teleconferencing technology will help ensure that your job interviews, depositions, and other meetings are successful.

Attorneys work hard for their clients, and one of the most exhausting parts of their job is travel.  Flying from San Diego to Fort Lauderdale to meet a prospective expert witness or commuting from Burbank to Newport Beach to “monitor” a deposition can be not only tiring, but expensive, costing both money and time.

There are iPad app solutions that give an attorney the choice whether to travel.  Many times the attorney needs to be physically present at a deposition, meeting, or document production, but if there is technology available that allows a choice, attorneys need to know about it.

1. FaceTime:  Allows a face-to-face video meeting or conference call.  Must have an iPad2, iPhone4, Mac computer, or iPod Touch and wi-fi connectivity.  (FaceTime app – free)
2. Remote Counsel – Courtroom Connect text streaming.  Your realtime court reporter can send a text realtime deposition/arbitration transcript to your iPad from a remote location.  (The court reporter must have special software installed in her/his computer to output the transcript.)
3. Case 24/7^TM online repository – allows the attorney or legal professional to have access to their deposition calendar, transcripts, and exhibits.  You don’t need to “physically” have documents that were previously marked in depositions.  Everything is accessible on the iPad.  (Kramm app – Free)

To have success with your app for remote events, wi-fi connectivity is the key to success.  For best results, schedule your meetings at a conference center that has T1 wi-fi available.  Unless there is enough bandwidth, and no firewalls to get through, your apps are not going to work efficiently.   Fractured images and slow audio will be the result of a lack of bandwidth.

Save yourself time, energy, and money – use your iPad. 

rosalie@kramm.com  Twitter

When talking candidly about topics concerning everything from influencing skills to authenticity, a point was touched upon about the younger generation and their response, or lack-thereof, to each of these things. Questions were raised about what it took to have a genuine influence on people in the workplace and what the reality behind operating as an authentic professional truly meant. Do you need to be intimidating to be influential? Smart? Successful? Accomplished? Do you need to expose your weaknesses and beliefs, be they political or religious to be genuinely authentic? How do you gain respect from others and most importantly, how do you do so while simultaneously reaching that younger generation that seems to unapologetically full of entitlement? How do you bridge that gap?

As a member of that younger generation myself, I felt it my duty to speak up. Surprisingly, the answer is quite simple. While the professional world of today is a dog-eat-dog market full of fast information and competition, there is one thing that it sorely lacks; And that one thing, is humanity – the very thing that the 20-30 somethings can’t find through their beloved Googles, blogs and Blackberries.

As a part of that generation myself, I have been influenced by so many people along the way. However, unlike things may have been before my time, it wasn’t by the people who knew more than me, or competed with me to prove their rank, it was the people who made a difference by taking the time to form a relationship with me, be it large or small. At the end of the day, the internet can provide us with all of the hard information that we need, but they are not people. And that’s where the true value lies. Remember, it’s not about competition, but compassion, not about rank, but respect, and never as much about quantity, as it is quality, three things that a computer, cannot compute.

Next time, before you tell the kid down the hall what your worth by spouting out your list of accomplishments and skills, tell them first about the baseball game you went to last night, the type of beer (or wine!) you drank, the college you went to and what you loved (or hated) about your freshman year roommate – and then go through the report with them. Once people expose themselves as humble, honest, genuine, authentic players in the game only then do things become real, and only them, do they become respected influencers to that hard-to-crack generation.

By Guest Blogger:  Devin Cirillo

As a principal of the Discovery Conference Centre, a business that rents meeting rooms to businesspeople, and Kramm Court Reporting and Legal Video, I am surprised by how often I receive emails, read blog posts and articles, written by business professionals, and the writings have basic spelling mistakes.   Legal staff, paralegals and legal secretaries, will send me emails with the incorrect usage of “too” and “to” and “it’s” and “its” and “you’re” and “your.” 

When I point out these types of mistakes, as a courtesy, in my mind, I receive either no response or a reply, “Thanks, but I was writing the email really fast and wasn’t paying attention to spelling.”

I suggest that people must know the following and never make a mistake with basic words, even when writing a quick email or posting their blog:
 

1. too versus to:  If you can insert “as well as” instead  of  “too,” it is too. 

2. its versus it’s:  If you can insert “it is” it is always it’s (no exceptions).
  
3. you versus you’re:   If you can insert “you are,” it is always you’re.

4. their versus there:  If it is possessive, it is always their.

These eight words are important and are used all of the time in writings.  If I see the words misspelled or used incorrectly, I wonder about the person and:  (a) their ability to learn; (b) if they care about their reputation, work product; (c) if they got out of high school.

I truly want what is best for everyone, and I believe being conscious about what you write and the grammar is incredibly important – particularly in this era of emails and online posts.

@rosaliekramm (Twitter)

San Diego is known for its beaches, zoo, and weather – a perfect city to calendar a board of directors meeting, specialized computer training, or a deposition of an expert witness.  The Discovery Conference Centre was built for such meetings.  If you are a headhunter and need to interview a potential candidate for a new position, and the candidate lives in a remote location, use videoconferencing to save time and money – no need for a flight until the candidate has been initially vetted via a videoconference.

Expert witnesses and doctors like to testify after-hours so their practice is not interrupted.  Our court reporters and videographers are available 24/7 to record the testimony.  Using teleconferencing and videoconferencing equipment once again allows for the saving of time and money by parties.

Here are some key questions to ask when setting up a meeting room so you are not surprised by unexpected costs, and you have a facility that meets your needs:

1. Does the meeting room and/or conference center supply water and coffee/tea service?  If so, is there a cost?

2. Does the meeting room and/or conference center supply wireless internet connectivity?  If so, is there a cost?

3.  For a videoconference, do you have a dedicated T1 line to ensure excellent quality of the video and audio?

4. For a teleconference, do you have a dedicated number for our meeting or deposition?  If so, what is the cost per minute for all of the participants?

5. For my presentation, do you have the technology to amplify my laptop’s speaker phones so everyone in the room can hear?

6. For my deposition, can you provide a court reporter and/or legal videographer that will stay past normal business hours if necessary to get the deposition completed?

7. What is the cost for the videoconferencing facilities after normal business hours?

Coffee service, wireless internet access, and the logistics of a meeting room are key elements to a successful meeting that is within your budget.  Know the questions to ask before you set up your meeting.  We wish for you a successful meeting every time.

@rosaliekramm (Twitter)

As one of the principals of Discovery Conference Centre, Inc., I have had the pleasure of meeting dynamic, smart businesspeople who need a place to conduct business and/or trainings in a professional setting with all of the technology bells and whistles available to them.  Many of our DCC clients are using our conference rooms to “network.”

I believe “networking” has become one of the buzzwords of 2011.  It has always been considered to be an important part of business, getting out and about, shaking hands, but since the Great Recession, when businesses need to step up to get work (little to no low hanging fruit is available), meeting potential clients, finding referral sources, and getting your name out there, networking has become essential for survival. 

Many of our clients are in the 2B2 world, service businesses.  It can be uncomfortable for accountants, transactional attorneys, and stock brokers to have to go out and find business, meet strangers, learn the art of “cocktail party” selling, and create opportunity. 

I have learned a trick or two in the art of networking, and I would like to share them.  Remember, the goal of the Discovery Conference Centre is for anyone who walks through the doors to know SUCCESS.

Tip 1:  Always come prepared with business cards that are easy to access.  This might sound too simple, but I have stood there when someone asks  for my court reporter business card and dug into my purse, opening my wallet, hunting in little compartments, and feeling generally foolish.  Put business cards in a shirt or pants pocket or in a professional cardholder placed at the top of your purse ready to go before you get to the event.
 
Tip 2:  Be conscious.  Before you get to the networking event, sit still for a second and think about what you want to accomplish.  Is there someone in particular you want to meet?  Is there a type of businessperson or vendor you need to create a relationship with?   Have a strategy in place.

Tip 3:  Be kind.  If someone looks a little out of place, shy or scared, go to that person, shake their hand, ask them who they are and what they do.  Know that 95% of the people in the room are  uncomfortable and a little shy.  The person you meet might be a goldmine for your future.

Tip 4:  Helping others needs to be part of your strategy.  Once you meet someone, ask who they are, what they do, think if you can or want to help them with a tip or referral to someone else.  I have found it is easier to help others rather than to think I have to sell myself in that moment.  The person you are meeting is going to be grateful and probably will want to help you back.  Human nature.

Tip 5:  Know your business niche.  Meeting someone new and saying, “I am a transactional attorney and do a lot of estates and wills,” is kind of boring and generic.  If you say, “I am a transactional attorney that helps people with their estates and tax planning and do a lot of work with people who own vintage cars” or “apartment complexes,” that opens up the door for conversation.   Add a little flavor and fun to your “elevator speech.”

Tip 6:  Elevator speeches are boring and usually obviously rehearsed and  memorized and don’t sound authentic.  That is my opinion.

Tip 7:  Move along.  Know that everyone in the room wants to meet as many people as possible.  If you meet someone that needs to know someone else in the room, make the introduction and move along.  If someone gloms onto you, say, “I’m going to go get something to eat” or “Oh, there is Ted Smith.  I need to talk to him.  Excuse me.”   And then move on.  No one should get their feelings hurt.  Networking events are to conduct business.

If you have a tip or two you would like to share with people who are in the networking arena, please leave them here.  Let’s all get business and be more successful than ever!

@rosaliekramm  (Twitter)

Our San Diego conference rooms are used by national and international companies to interview job applicants on a weekly basis.  We have had applicants interview for jobs in locales such as Taiwan, Copenhagen, and Washington DC.  Discovery Conference Centre provides the technology to allow for the interview through our high-speed dedicated T1 IP videoconferencing equipment.

We have noticed a pattern of the applicants interviewing for a job.  There are the obvious nerves, and 99% of the interviewees have never been “on TV” before and don’t know what to expect or “how to act.”  We get questions about where to focus their eyes, how to sit…

We cannot speak to how you should answer questions or sell your qualifications, but we can give some tips for “looking good” on video.

1. Don’t wear white or yellow around your face – it will make you look washed out.  The best colors for video are grey,  blue, and pastels.  Wear your power tie, but don’t wear a white shirt under it. 

2.  Arrive at least 15 minutes early.  Coming in the last minute adds to the stress.  This might sound like common sense, but a lot of people don’t map out the location or get caught in traffic…

3. Before the videoconference starts, sit in the seat that you will be sitting in for the interview and expect the technician to frame the shot so you are in the perfect position for the camera.  You will be able to see the shot that the interviewers will see.

4. Don’t refuse water or a cup of tea.  Being nervous can cause thirst.  (If you notice in late night talk shows, the guest always has a glass of water nearby.)  Having a cup of tea nearby or glass of water also can act as a prop or excuse to slow down, take a sip, and organize your thoughts.

5. Do some deep breathing – quickly breathe in 10 times deeply and then breathe out 10 times with force.  It is not silly.  The breathing will have the effect of deepening your voice (nerves can cause a higher voice) and help get you centered.  Actors use this trick before every take.

6. Organize your notes, reading materials, paperwork around you on the table so it is easy to access and you know where things are.  Take your papers and a pen out of your briefcase.  You will be more confident if you are not fumbling around looking for documents.

7. Turn off your phone.  Because of our highly sensitive microphone, we will pick up the sound of your phone even if it is in the vibrating mode; and if you have set it with no sound, but it is receiving emails, the phone still can send out a frequency when an email comes in that causes a crackling noise at the remote location.

8. Finally, know you are getting this opportunity because your resume’ and/or your phone interview really impressed the company you are applying for a job with.  They want to meet you and see your demeanor before the next step in the job interview process. 

Good luck! 
@rosaliekramm  (Twitter)

I always enjoy giving clients and visitors VIP tours of our conference center.  One of my favorite rooms is named Tranquility.  It is a room set up for attorneys and business people to relax in, watch television, make a phone call, or think.  Our Tranquility room is named after the base camp that the astronauts used when they first landedwalked on the moon.

DCC principal Chris Jordan’s passion is NASA and space.  Chris named our conference center “Discovery Conference Centre” after the Discovery space program (as well as the play on words, because “discovery” is what attorneys do when litigating a case).

From my research I have learned that “Tranquility Base Camp” was Armstrong and Aldrin’s idea.  Their intent was to emphasize the fact they were explorers, not just pilots like the astronauts before them, and therefore wanted a “base camp” to explore out of.   Where the Eagle landed on the moon was near the Sea of Tranquility, hence “Tranquility Base Camp.”

We want our clients to feel our conference center is their base camp.  It is a technologically advanced meeting space for business people/lawyers to do business out of, whether it is taking a deposition, doing a technology training, or meeting a client.

The next time you are in San Diego, come visit our conference center, grab a cup of coffee and spend a few minutes in Tranquility.  Let us be your base camp.